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The term “influencer marketing” may call to mind jet-setting travel vloggers on YouTube or cool gamer kids streaming on Twitch. However, there are also many influencers working in the business and marketing realm. Data science influencers educate and inform on the subject of the scientific approach to extracting insights from data for real-world applications. Here are eight of the data science thought leaders topping influencer discovery searches.

1. Andrew Ng (@AndrewYNg)

Andrew Ng’s credentials speak for themselves. As Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University he led an online course for over 100,000 students. This endeavor led to the creation of the Coursera online learning platform. He was also a founding lead on the “Google Brain” project, using his knowledge of deep learning to pave the way in machine learning. He’s also the former head of Baidu AI. He has 445,000 followers on Twitter, where he shares his insights and opinions on artificial intelligence and deep learning algorithms.

2. Kirk Borne (@KirkDBorne)

Kirk Borne is a global speaker covering the subjects of big data and artificial intelligence. He certainly knows his stuff: He’s the principal data scientist at Booz Allen Hamilton, providing management and tech consulting to the U.S. government. He worked to prevent further terror attacks by studying data from 9/11 and was an astrophysicist with NASA. He also maintains the blog Rocket-Powered Data Science, which focuses on big data analytics for data-driven discovery. On Twitter he has over 247,000 followers, and in 2019 he was named the number one digital influencer by IPFC Online.

3. Ronald van Loon (@Ronald_vanLoon)

Ronald van Loon aims to help “data-driven companies generating business value.” He’s well-respected for his insights regarding big data, data science, machine learning and analytics. Since joining Twitter in 2012 he has amassed 203,000 followers, and he claims to be a top 10 influencer. His Twitter feed is a fantastic place for infographics and informative discussion on the key subjects helping businesses grow.

4. Lillian Pierson (@Strategy_Gal)

Big data isn’t just a boy’s club; serial entrepreneur Lillian Pierson is proving women are just as influential in business. She’s a three-times CEO, strategist, thought leader and business coach for the tech sector, and has educated over one million tech professionals. She founded Data-Mania to supporting business leaders with data strategies for massive business value, and Catapult Coaching, which supports tech entrepreneurs and scalable businesses. She works with Wiley Publishers and LinkedIn Learning to effectively communicate her message to a large audience, and she has over 136,000 Twitter followers.

5. Hilary Mason (@hmason)

Hilary Mason is a data scientist for Accel Partners, a company that works with founders to help business growth. She’s also the founder and CEO of Fast Forward Labs, a machine intelligence research company, and a co-founder of the HackNY Fellows program. As if that wasn’t enough, she’s a member of the NYCResistor hacker collective and a co-host of the DataGotham event. Hilary is a global speaker, and she shares her wisdom with 119,000 followers on Twitter. Despite incredible achievements she has a sense of fun that makes her relatable, and she calls herself someone who loves data and cheeseburgers.

6. Naval Ravikant (@naval)

Naval Ravikant is one of the most respected entrepreneurs and thinkers in the world today. He’s the co-founder and CEO of AngelList, a website for startups and investors, and an angel investor with an extensive portfolio. He’s in demand as a speaker on diverse subjects including startups, blockchain and investing. Naval is also a huge presence on Twitter, where he has over 718,000 followers. His Twitter bio simply reads, “vitam impendere vero,” which means to devote your life to the truth.

7. Bernard Marr (@BernardMarr)

International best-selling author and keynote speaker, Bernard Marr, has over 124,000 followers on Twitter. He’s a regular contributor on Forbes and has received critical praise for his books on data strategy, big data, key performance indicators and artificial intelligence. Companies all over the world call on his assistance for business strategy and performance.

8. Carla Gentry (@data_nerd)

Carla Gentry is a straight talking “nerd” with a wealth of experience in data science and IT. She brings her experience to smaller companies that lack analytical departments, illustrating how key performance indicators translate into improved returns. She has worked with all types of businesses, including educational institutes, financial companies, retail store and wireless communication companies. On Twitter, she loves to share information on data science and analytics with her 54,000 followers.

Final Thought: Campaigns by the Numbers

Big data is big business, and data science influencers have the potential to help your campaigns achieve their full potential. When you’re trying to find the right influencers to work with, don’t waste time crunching the numbers. Employ the right influencer discovery tools to streamline your campaign launch and maximize the return on your investment. IZEAx Discovery is the largest marketplace of its type for 100 percent opt-in content creators, making it easy to find the talent you need. Register today to discover influencers who help your campaign go by the numbers.